First of all thanks for the shout out.
Quoting: BuFfaLOFaN
Yea, I bet Routsalainen takes the hit...but I'd rather him.
I agree, Rieder had a great playoff and tied a record which I am sure got a lot of attention.
Ruotsalainen can KP and has a higher offensive cap than Rieder but when a coach puts Sobotka on the second line instead of Sheary or Vesey or Rodrigues, one has to wonder.
Quoting: BuFfaLOFaN
Switch with Thompson?
I agree, I think Sam with Casey would work.
But see above as to my feelings about our coach.
Last year it was Victor and Jack with Sam picking up garbage.
The year before it was Jeff and Jack with Sam picking up garbage.
Before that it was Evander and Jack with Sam picking up the garbage.
Give Sam his own line.
Quoting: BuFfaLOFaN
Problem is that is such a young 3rd line, 2 first year players and a 2nd year player. I'd be frightened by that.
Very frightening IMHO.
I would also reunite Jeff and Jack.
Taylor can run his own line.
Career.Hall.......Eichel
Gm......627........354
G.........218........137
A..........345.......200
P..........563.......337
%ast.0.613.......0.593
Taylor gets more pts from assists than jack, it is only logical to separate them and not have two playmaker on the same line.
I know we hear Taylor wants to play with Jack, is that on the same team or same line.
Taylor away from jack will give the him a chance to play against less defensive minded opposition.
Finally, you may have read this comment before, Casey played fourth line minutes with third line wingers and generated third line production.
Jeff - Jack-Tage
Taylor-Eric-Dylan
Arttu-Casey-Sam
Zemgus-Curtis-Kyle
Tage picks up the garbage
Taylor drives his own line.
Sam gets a chance to prove he is a $6,000,000 player
Who ever you want on the fourth line.
We can differ who is playing where but to even consider having two of the top line players now on the third line demonstrates how much more depth this team has.
I can only imagine there are very few teams that would have the talent to put two players who scored 20 goals the previous year on the third line.
Only 86 forwards were able to score 20 or more goals last year and now this line up has two of them on the third line.